My name is Dr Michael Tilley, and I have just been appointed as a Lecturer in Asian Religions at York St John University in the UK. As part of my new role, I have been tasked with leading and developing a second-year module on YSJU's BA in Theology & Religious Studies entitled 'Sikh Traditions'. The remit I have been provided states that students enrolled on this module will be assessed in part by producing a 'research file' on Sikhs in the diaspora - that is, those living outside of the Punjab. A significant part of this includes reviewing the academic literature available on the various challenges that diasporic Sikhs encounter in such contexts, to then compare this to personal testimonies of Sikhs that they have actively engaged with. In order to acquire the latter, I have arranged for a few visiting speakers to attend my classes, alongside organizing a trip to a Gurdwara in the Yorkshire area where the university is based. However, I intend to supplement this with allowing the students to effectively 'interview' a Sikh via email correspondence.

I am writing this current post to enquire if there is anyone registered on this forum who might be willing to communicate with some of my students via email over this upcoming academic semester (September-December). I am in the process of producing a full briefing which includes terms of participation, but for now I can say that it would involve responding to a few questions from undergraduate students on topics that may, for example, include identity maintenance or experiences of prejudice. The only requirements of prospective participants is that they: (I) identify as a Sikh, (2) are above the age of eighteen years, (3) live in a diasporic context (i.e. Britain or Canada).